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<img src="/icons/city_gray.svg" alt="/icons/city_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Mako, Inc.
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<img src="/icons/row_gray.svg" alt="/icons/row_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Table of Contents
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<img src="/icons/flash_gray.svg" alt="/icons/flash_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Apply Now!
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Summary
Mako is seeking our first Founding Product Manager! You will own product vision, strategy, and execution for an enterprise‐focused AI and GPU optimization platform. Reporting directly to the CEO (and partnering closely with the CTO), you will define the roadmap, validate features with early customers, and ensure our platform delivers maximum value
This job is based in New York City. Remote work will be considered for exceptional candidates.
About Mako
Mako is a venture-backed tech startup building an intelligent GPU optimization and deployment platform with two key components.
- MakoOptimize automatically selects and swaps GPU kernels in combination with tuning inference engine (vLLM, SGlang, etc..) hyperparameters to optimize performance
- MakoGenerate writes GPU kernels in CUDA, HIP, and Triton using LLMs
Responsibilities
- Define & Validate Product Vision
- Partner with CEO and CTO to craft a clear, differentiated value proposition for AI/ML engineering teams and HPC groups at large enterprises.
- Conduct continuous customer discovery: interview AI engineers, ML Ops leads, and performance-focused developers to validate pain points, workflows, and willingness to pay.
- Own Roadmap & Requirements
- Translate customer insights into a prioritized roadmap, balancing short-term MVP features with longer-term platform investments (e.g., dashboarding, usage analytics, SDK integrations).
- Write clear product specs, user stories, and success metrics - ensuring features are scoped for rapid iteration.
- Collaborate with Engineering and Sales
- Work closely with engineering to prototype, test, and ship features quickly, iterating based on usage data and customer feedback.
- Coordinate with Sales/BD to package and position new functionality for enterprise pilots.
- Provide input to Marketing on messaging, content assets, and go-to-market collateral.
- Drive Iteration Speed
- Define and track key product metrics (activation rate, time-to-first-value, feature adoption) to inform roadmap adjustments.
- The number one priority is to drive iteration speed. You’ll be responsible for working with the engineering team to set priorities and ambitious goals, and you’ll own roadmaps.
Qualifications
- Early-Stage Product Experience
- 3+ years in a product role (ideally in seed- or Series A-stage startups) building B2B software, developer tools, or AI-powered platforms.
- Demonstrated ability to ship features end-to-end: scoping requirements, collaborating with engineering, and measuring results.
- Technical Fluency
- Comfortable engaging in deep technical conversations about GPU architectures, inference pipelines (vLLM, SGlang), or kernel performance.
- You don’t need to write CUDA, but you should understand why GPU optimization matters to large AI teams - enough to translate technical trade‐offs into product decisions.
- Product Design Sensibility
- Strong design taste: you know what “good” looks like in a developer-centric UI/UX.
- Able to critique wireframes or mockups for clarity, simplicity, and ease of use, ensuring a cohesive and intuitive experience for technical users.
- Excellent Project Management Skills
- You’re detail oriented and have managed complex software products before.
- Excellent communication skills
Bonus Points
- Prior founder or early employee at a scaling startup
- Familiarity with GPU kernel optimization (CUDA, HIP, Triton) or related inference engines (vLLM, SGlang)
Our Benefits
- Competitive salary and equity package
- Comprehensive health insurance coverage for you and your family
- Remote work option for exceptional candidates
- Generous vacation and paid time off policy
- Modern and comfortable work environment with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities
To Apply
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